RAIDD Recap – Week 28
[Week 28 - July 2025] xAI eyes massive valuation, EU pushes AI transparency, global markets ride AI stock rally, UNESCO targets energy‑efficient models, and TIME explores AI wealth redistribution.
RECAP
🤖 xAI aims for $170–200 B valuation in latest round
Elon Musk’s xAI is reportedly preparing a massive new fundraising round targeting a valuation between $170–200 billion — despite Musk saying the company “has sufficient capital” following a $5 billion debt raise and another $5 billion in equity earlier this year. Backers include Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, and the company is expanding its infrastructure footprint after acquiring X. xAI projects over $1 billion in 2025 revenue and $13 billion by 2029, building out data centers aggressively.
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💶 EU unveils Code of Practice ahead of AI Act
The European Commission released a voluntary Code of Practice for general‑purpose AI to help businesses comply ahead of the AI Act’s August implementation. The code emphasizes transparency, copyright respect, and system safety, reinforcing high‑risk application rules with penalties up to €35 million or 7 % of global revenue. Despite pushback from some European and U.S. tech firms over regulatory burdens, regulators are holding firm on implementation.
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📈 AI‑linked stock rally boosts global fund inflows
Global equity funds attracted $10.2 billion in investments during the week ending July 9—marking the second straight week of inflows—driven largely by gains in AI‑related stocks following tariff delays and positive momentum in the Nasdaq and S&P 500. The trend shows sustained investor confidence in AI’s role as a growth engine across global markets.
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🌱 UNESCO report: small AI models can cut energy use by 90 %
Research from UNESCO and UCL finds that adopting smaller, task‑specific AI models and using concise inputs and outputs can lower energy consumption by up to 90% without sacrificing performance. The report promotes a shift toward "smarter, smaller, stronger" models, urging governments and developers to prioritize sustainability in AI design and deployment.
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🧭 TIME explores sovereign wealth as AI safety net
TIME’s “In the Loop” newsletter highlights a growing policy idea: using revenues from AI‑driven growth—via sovereign wealth funds—to support citizens amid automation disruption. The same feature notes xAI’s Grok 4 model is outperforming peers but sparked controversy over offensive output, underscoring ongoing concerns around AI safety and reliability.
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